Dna markers for meat tenderness

ABSTRACT

A method for assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal, comprising the step of testing the animal for the presence or absence of a genetic marker selected from the group consisting of:  
     (1) an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with peak-force variation or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele; and  
     (2) an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) associated with instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is concerned with genetic markers for meat tenderness in animals, and with methods and oligonucleotide probes for assessing meat tenderness in said animals, and a kit for this purpose. The invention is useful for the selection of animals which show desirable traits in meat tenderness either for breeding or to select animals destined to be slaughtered for food.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Meat tenderness is an important issue for consumers, and one which can influence demand sufficiently for an especially tender meat to command a premium price in the marketplace. The physiological change in muscle structure during the postmortem period is complex but clearly seems to be at least one factor in meat tenderness. The calpain/calpastatin system is an endogenous, calcium-dependent proteinase system, theorised to initiate in vivo muscle protein degradation. Calpastatin appears to inhibit calpain activity and therefore may be assumed to have a role in meat tenderness through the regulation of postmortem proteolysis. In particular, calpain is response for the breakdown of myofibril protein, which is closely related to meat tenderness.

[0003] It might therefore be suspected that calpastatin activity will be related to meat tenderness. Indeed, an increase in postmortem calpastatin activity has been correlated to reduced meat tenderness. Nevertheless, despite such observations, no clear link between the CAST gene, which encodes calpastatin, and meat tenderness has been established.

[0004] For example, Lonergan et al. (1995) undertook a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis at CAST and failed to find an association with either calpastatin activity or tenderness in cross bred offspring of sires from eight breeds. Chung et al. (1999) measured calpastatin activity, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force and myofibril fragmentation index in forty-seven purebred Angus bulls. However, they concluded that “PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the calpastatin gene was not useful for prediction of calpastatin activity, myofibril fragmentation index or meat tenderness”.

[0005] It is long known that one of the actions of lysyl oxidase (LOX) is to initiate crosslink formation at an early stage in collagen fibrillogenesis (e.g., Cronlund et al., 1985). The action of lysyl oxidase is intensively studied with hundreds of publications on a variety of aspects of its importance in cancer (Giampuzzi et al., 2001), the vasculature (Nellaiappan et al.) and other tissue and organ systems.

[0006] Variation at the gene itself has not been associated with differences in beef tenderness although LOX has always been seen as a strong candidate on biochemical grounds for a gene contributing to the collagen component of tenderness. Analysis of genetic linkage has implicated the genomic region that includes LOX in linkage analysis of family variation in adhesion and instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle (STADH and STIC; Drinkwater et al., 1999). However, LOX itself has not been associated with these measures of tenderness through the study of population associations.

[0007] Meat tenderness is a complicated trait because there are many sources of variation that affect postmortem meat tenderisation. Some of these are non-genetic effects such as the age of the beast, the nature of its feed, degree of stress prior to slaughter, carcass chilling, postmortem ageing time and cooking and testing methods. It has been suggested (e.g. Koohmaraie (1994)) that approximately 30% of the variation in tenderness in meat can be explained by additive gene effects within a single breed, and that approximately 70% of the variation is explained by environmental and non-additive gene effects. In the Lonergan study the cattle were slaughtered at just over 1 year of age (430 days), the sample contained only 83 animals of random peak-force values, and the sample consisted entirely of crosses between various taurine breeds. Likewise, in the Chung study purebred Angus bulls only 280 days of age were used. In addition, in neither study were the animales selected for extreme peak-force values, and it therefore seems that environmental and non-fixed genetic effects may have contributed to the failure to identify any genetic linkage between the CAST gene and meat tenderness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Through using a protocol designed to reduce the influence of fixed genetic and environmental effects, the present inventor was unexpectedly able to show allelic association between the CAST and LOX genes and meat tenderness. In general terms, therefore, the present invention is concerned with genetic markers for meat tenderness in animals killed for meat which are polymorphisms of the CAST and LOX genes or polymorphisms which show allelic association therewith.

[0009] Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal, comprising the step of testing the animal for the presence or absence of a genetic marker selected from the group consisting of:

[0010] (1) an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with peak-force variation or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele; and

[0011] (2) an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) associated with variation in instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele.

[0012] Preferably, the allele tested for is located in the 3′ UTR of CAST, and is typically CAST3 D/E allele 1, having the following partial DNA sequence: catttggaaaacgatgcctcacgtgttcttcagtgttctgatttctcat (SEQ ID NO:1) gacccctttcctcttGgacttgtgggactgtgtttgatgtttccctgggttgttgttt ataagtcagtcataaAatactgtgcattgggcacatgtctcctcttgagctgctaatc gtaga,

[0013] CAST3 D/E allele 2, having the following partial DNA sequence: catttggaaaacgatgcctcacgtgttcttcagtgttctgatttctcat (SEQ ID NO:2) gacccctttcctcttAgacttgtgggactgtgtttgatgtttccctgggttgttgttt ataagtcagtcataaAatactgtgcattgggcacatgtctcctcttgagctgctaatc gtaga

[0014] or CAST3 D/E allele 3, having the following partial DNA sequence: catttggaaaacgatgcctcacgtgttcttcagtgttctgatttctcat (SEQ ID NO:3) gacccctttcctcttAgacttgtgggactgtgtttgatgtttccctgggttgttgttt ataagtcagtcataaTatactgtgcattgggcacatgtctcctcttgagctgctaatc gtaga.

[0015] Reduced meat toughness is selected for by rejecting animals with the “11” and “12” genotypes and accepting animals with the “22” or “23” genotypes. In the sequences given above, the allelic difference is highlighted with a capital letter. These three alleles in the D/E DNA fragment are due to two SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The first SNP is at base 2655 of Genbank sequence L14450, which is the same as base 2959 of Genbank sequence AF159246; it is a G to A change so that allele 1 has G and alleles 2 and 3 have A. The second SNP is an A to T change 58 base pairs 3′ to the first SNP. Since only three alleles have been noted for this region, with 2 SNPS, it implies that there is complete linkage disequillibrium between allele 2 and allele 3, and allele 3 may have evolved from allele 2. This is expected since they are 58 base pairs apart. For predictive purposes, a test of the second SNP which gives a result of allele 3 is equivalent to a test of the first SNP giving a result of allele 2. This is consistent with the peak force values of animals that are ‘23’ heterozygotes, all of whom have low peak force values. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that these polymorphisms are linked to a mutation in or near the calpastatin gene (perhaps in the promoter or an intron) which results in reduced calpastatin expression or activity.

[0016] A further polymorphism has been identified in the 5′ UTR of the CAST gene and other polymorphisms which exhibit allelic association with the polymorphism of the 3′ UTR, and therefore also act as genetic markers for the tenderness characteristics described above, may also be present at least within the genomic DNA embracing the coding region of the CAST gene and the 5′ UTR and 3′ UTR regions of that gene. In addition, where there has been a recent reduction in population size for a species, particular haplotypes of individuals will be relatively over-represented. If insufficient time has elapsed to cause allelic association to decay, there will be linkage disequilibrium even for alleles which are far apart. Livestock species such as cattle have been domesticated from a relatively small pool of wild ancestors in recent times, and therefore in these species allelic association is found between alleles that may be remote physically. Thus, it may be expected that regions of genetic variation that are outside the CAST gene will also show allelic association with the polymorphisms in the CAST gene described above, and therefore will be suitable genetic markers for the characteristic of peak-force variation. Hence, these polymorphisms may also be used to assess meat tenderness.

[0017] In particular the CAST5 microsatellite polymorphism (Nonneman et al, 1999) has been found to be useful as a genetic marker for meat tenderness. Of the more common alleles, alleles 7 and 9 have been found to be associated with low peak-force ad allele 3 to be associated with high peak-force.

[0018] Therefore, the invention encompasses, in preferred embodiments, the further step of testing for the presence or absence of one or more additional genetic markers such as alleles of the gene encoding calpastatin associated with peak-force variation, in particular, with testing for the presence or absence of CAST5 allele 7 or 9 and/or the presence or absence of CAST5 allele 3. The most favorable results when the presence of CAST D/E allele 2 has been established is to have CAST5 allele 7 or allele 9 present also, whereas the benefits of the presence of CAST D/E allele 2 are to some degree counteracted if the animal also possesses CAST5 allele 3.

[0019] The LOX polymorphism has also been shown to be a genetic marker for meat tenderness, and allele 1 or allele 2 may be tested for. Just as for the CAST gene, allelic association may be exhibited to alleles located outside the LOX gene.

[0020] The LOX polymorphism has the following partial sequence in which the A-T variant causes the SSCP with allele 1 equal to base T and allele 2 equal to base A: TTATCACTGATGTCAAACCTGGAAACTATATTCTCAAGGTAGAGAACTTT GAACATATACCCATAATGTATTTCAATTGTGACTCAGTGGGCTTATTCTC TGGAGTCAAATGTTAAATATTCATGGTCCTGCAAACAATTATACATCTTC TAGAACTACTT(C/T)TAAACCAACCTAGATATATT(A/T)AAAAAATTC TTATTTGAAAGAACTTTATGGAAAAAGATCCAGCCTCCTTCAAAAACTCC AGAGTTGAAACACATGCCTAACTTACACCCTCTTCCTTGCCTGATTTAGT TGAATTATGCTGTCTCTATTTTAGCCTCCATTCTGGAAAGAGGAAAAAAA TTAACCAGTAAACACTGCTGATGAAATCTGAAACACAGATGATGTTTGTT TTGCCTAGGTCAGTGTGAATCCCAGCTATTTGGTGCC

[0021] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a genetic marker for meat tenderness in an animal which is a polymorphic form of the CAST gene, being the CAST3 D/E polymorphism or the LOX polymorphism.

[0022] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3.

[0023] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated DNA molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3.

[0024] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for selecting an animal likely to yield meat of improved tenderness, comprising the steps of:

[0025] (1) testing the animal for the presence of an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with low peak-force or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele and/or for the presence of an allele of the LOX gene associated with the low instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele; and

[0026] (2) selecting animals which have the CAST and/or LOX allele and/or genetic variation in allelic association therewith.

[0027] Advantageously, in order to assess the tenderness of meat from an animal and/or select an animal likely to yield meat of improved tenderness testing may comprise the steps of:

[0028] (1) obtaining a biological sample from the animal;

[0029] (2) extracting DNA from the sample;

[0030] (3) amplifying DNA from the CAST or LOX gene and/or from regions of genetic variation which show allelic association to polymorphisms of the relevant one of the CAST or LOX gene; and

[0031] (4) identifying the allele present in the amplified DNA.

[0032] Typically the allele identified in step (4) is one of CAST3 D/E allele 1, CAST3 D/E allele 2 and CAST3 D/E allele 3 described above and/or the CAST5 alleles described above.

[0033] Preferably the biological sample is blood, but other biological samples from which DNA can be amplified may be used. For example, hair root samples, cheek scrapings, skin samples and the like may be used.

[0034] Typically amplification is performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but other DNA amplification methods such as the ligase chain reaction are well known in the art, and may alternatively be used.

[0035] Preferably the alleles are identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques such as SSCP, or by other techniques well known to the person skilled in the art such as RFLP analysis.

[0036] In a sixth aspect the invention provides an oligonucleotide probe for amplification of a genetic marker associated with peak-force variation, said genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with said allele.

[0037] Typically the probe is selected from the group consisting of: castd 5′ cat ttg gaa aac gat gcc tca c 3′ caste 5′ tct acg att agc agc tca aga gga g 3′ CAST5U1 5′-GTAAAGCCGCACAAAACACACCCAGG-3′ CAST5D1 5′-GTTTCTGGACCCTCTGGATGAGGAAGCGG-3′.

[0038] In view of the designation of the primers as CASTD and CASTE, the amplified fragment of the CAST gene is referred to from time to time as the CAST D/E fragment and the polymorphism as the CAST D/E polymorphism.

[0039] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided an oligonucleotide probe for amplification of a genetic marker associated with variation in instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle, the genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with said allele.

[0040] Typically the oligonucleotide probe is an oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of: LOX K5: 5′ tat cac tga tgt caa acc tg 3′ LOX K6: 5′ act cag gca cca aat agc tg 3′

[0041] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for use in assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal and/or selecting an animal likely to yield meat of improved tenderness, comprising oligonucleotide probes for amplification of at least one genetic marker for meat tenderness, said genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with said allele, or an allele of the LOX gene associated with low instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele, and means for amplifying DNA.

[0042] The primers used to amplify the DNA are the CASTD and CASTE primers and/or the CAST5U1 and CAST5D1 primers for amplifying the CAST5 polymorphism. However, other primers able to amplify polymorphisms associated with a reduction in toughness in meat are envisaged, whether these be primers which amplify a polymorphism other than the CAST3 D/E polymorphism or CAST5 polymorphism, or other primers able to amplify the CAST3 D/E fragment of CAST5 polymorphism.

[0043] The methods of the invention may be used both for the selection of breeding animals and for the selection of unpedigreed animals for entry into feed lots. In the latter case, the methods of the invention allow for animals with unsuitable pedigrees to be excluded from feed lots on the basis that highly tender meat is unlikely to be attained with these animals even after a long feed lot holdings. Alternatively, such measurements may allow for determination of the optimum time to reach maximum meat tenderness. The invention is therefore also concerned with animals when selected by the method of the invention, their progeny and the use of both selected animals and their progeny for breeding, as well as meat from these animals.

[0044] The methods of the invention are applicable to animals including but not limited to cattle and other bovids, including water buffalo and bison, to other ungulates, including sheep, goats and deer, and pigs and chickens.

[0045] Throughout this specification, the words “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise.

[0046] It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048]FIG. 1 is a photograph of a single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) gel which shows genotypes for the CAST3 D/E polymorphism, from left to right, 11, 22, blank, 11, 12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 22.

[0049]FIG. 2a& b show the distribution of Warner-Bratzler peak-force measurements in the two samples of 169 and 77 animals respectively. Note that extremes were used so there is no middle to the distribution. It does not imply that the distribution is bi-modal. Note different scales in the figures.

[0050]FIG. 3a & b are a plot of the raw Warner-Bratzler peak-force measurements against the CAST genotypes. Note the gap in the middle due to the use of extremes of the distribution. Note the similarity between the distributions in the two samples.

[0051]FIG. 4 is a boxplot of the residual Warner-Bratzler peak-force measurements (x1) for each genotype for the first sample. The median quarter and three-quarter percentiles, whiskers and outliers are shown.

[0052]FIG. 5 shows the distribution of DNA fragment sizes for the CAST5 microsatellite. Horizontal axis is the frequency of each allele and the vertical axis is the DNA fragment size. Alleles are labelled in increasing DNA fragment size so allele m1 in this distribution is less than 132 bp, m2<136 bp, m3<138 bp, m4<142 bp, m5<144 bp, m6<146 bp, m7<148 bp, m8<151 bp, m9<153 bp, m10<155 bp, m11<157 bp, m12<159 bp, m13<161 bp. DNA fragments were not found in some of the 2 bp bins, e.g., in the less than 134 bp bin, and these are either extremely rare or non-existent.

[0053]FIG. 6 is a box plot of raw LD peak-force values along the horizontal axis versus CAST5 microsatelite allele identity along the vertical axis. The boxes contain the median value, represented by the dot, a box representing the 25 and 75 percentile and whiskers indicating the expected range for the distributions, with outliers indicated by open circles. Care must be taken in interpreting this figure since there are some alleles that are rare, such as m1, m2 and m13 (see FIG. 5 for the full distribution, so interpretations made on those alleles are not particularly informative. Note particularly that this is a distribution of extreme values, so the median value will swing from a low to a high value if half the samples are high values.

[0054]FIG. 7 is a photograph of a single strand conformational polymorphism gel showing the genotypes of LOX from left to right, 11, 11, 12, 12, 22, 11.

[0055]FIG. 8 shows the distribution of instron compression measurements for the two samples of 166 and 87 animals combined. Note that extremes were used so there is no middle to the distribution. It does not imply that the distribution is bi-modal.

[0056]FIG. 9 shows the distribution of adhesion measurements for the two samples of 166 and 87 animals combined. Although the sample was selected for extremes of instron compression, this has not been translated into a series of extreme adhesion measurements.

[0057]FIG. 10 is a plot of STIC versus STADH for the combined sample. Note the non-uniformity caused by the selected STIC values.

MODES FOR PERFORMING THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1 Identification of CAST3 D/E polymorphism

[0058] Cattle were chosen from the DNA Bank of the Cattle and Beef Cooperative Research Centre located in Brisbane, Australia to have as diverse a genetic and phenotypic background as possible. Information stored in the CRC Database was used to select animals. Animals of extremes of peak-force were selected, although animals with peak-force measures above 12 were excluded since they might have confounded peak-force measurements. In essence, the procedure was to select cattle in each contemporary group which were of phenotypic extreme measures, to ensure that no sire was represented by a cluster of offspring, that all markets and finishing regimes were included in each extreme, so that extremes were not biased by being representative of a particular market or finishing regime. A total of 169 samples were obtained (Table 1) for the first sample. A second sample of 77 animals (Table 6) were analysed as a check to determine whether the same allelic association could be observed in another sample.

[0059] These DNA samples were genotyped for the CAST (calpastatin) D/E DNA fragment using the primers castd 5′ cat ttg gaa aac gat gcc tca c 3′ caste 5′ tct acg att agc agc tca aga gga g 3′.

[0060] The conditions of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are an annealing temperature of 60 Celsius, 2.5 mM Magnesium chloride, and reagent mixes obtained from Biotech International. The DNA fragments were labelled via the incorporation of ³²P dCTP into the fragments during the PCR, and the fragments were visualised by autoradiography using X-Ray film exposed overnight at room temperature. Alleles were scored in numerical order where the fastest migrating allele is number 1.

[0061] The genotypes were analysed using generalised linear models (GLM) following the equation peak-force=1+genotypes nested within fixed effects+error implemented via the S-PLUS software. Fixed effects that were considered were breed, finish (Australia, Korea, Japan), contemporary group (cohort), region (pasture v grain, north v south) and the covariate of final weight. The genotypes were nested within region and breed since pure-bred offspring of taurine sires were not pastured in the north. The size of the effects associated with genotype was estimated by the comparison of variances (eg, Andersson-Eklund and Rendel, 1993). To estimate the size of effect associated with genotypic substitution, the same model was fitted without the calpastatin genotypes. Residuals were extracted and compared to the calpastatin genotypes. These were analysed using an analysis of variance to obtain adjusted means for each genotype Plots of raw and residual peak-force values against calpastatin genotypes were constructed.

EXAMPLE 2 Analysis of CAST3 D/E polymorphism

[0062] There are two common alleles (FIG. 1) and at least one rare allele for the CAST D/E polymorphism and both the common alleles are found in all the breeds, although there are clear differences in genotype frequency within the breeds. Zebu breeds have a greater frequency of the ‘11’ genotype (Tables 2 and 7) than taurine breeds in this sample.

[0063] The raw values (FIGS. 2a& 2 b) were then plotted against the CAST genotypes (FIGS. 3a& 3 b) and these associations are sufficiently strong to show visual associations between peak-force and genotype. The most important genetic effect considered in the literature for CAST, breed or taurine versus zebu, has been carefully matched so that there are animals of high and of low peak-force from each breed in the sample, and breed is not expected to be an explanatory variable here.

[0064] The analysis (Table 3) of the CAST genotypes shows strong, confirmatory evidence of effects of the CAST gene or sequences near the CAST gene on peak-force. The analysis shows no effect of breed, but since the sample consists of individuals of high and low peak-force for each breed, this was not unexpected. The size of effect associated with this polymorphism is approximately 7.9 percent of the phenotypic variance estimated as a main effect, and the deviance associated with CAST genotype nested within breed within region is 121.4 (17 df, P=0.001894). An un-nested interaction term between breed and CAST genotype was calculated for this sample, but is was not statistically significant. The GLM of the CAST genotypes (Table 4) against the residual peak force measurements show a statistically significant level of association similar to that of the CAST genotypes considered as a main effect (Table 3) rather than when they are nested within region and breed.

[0065] A boxplot of genotypes versus the residual peak force measurements (FIG. 4) shows clear differences in distributions and the difference between medians of the ‘11’ and the ‘22’ genotypes are approximately 1.2 kg of adjusted peak force. The adjusted means from the analysis of variance (Table 5) gives a difference of 1.34 kg of peak force between the homozygote genotypes. The overall standard deviation for the residuals is 1.61.

[0066] The GLM of the confirmatory sample of 77 animals showed a statistically significant association between CAST genotype and peak force, with the ‘1’ allele associated with higher peak forces. When the full model was calculated, none of the factors were statistically significant, possibly as a result of the relatively small sample size. Terms in the model were dropped one by one using the reduction in AIC as the criterion. All terms except the calpastatin genotypes were dropped (Table 8) in this automatic procedure, and these show a deviance of 17.9 (2 df, P<0.05) explaining 9.5 percent of the phenotypic variance. This is similar to the 8.9 percent found when the CAST genotypes were compared without other factors to peak force in the first sample.

Discussion

[0067] The results presented here indicate that genetic variation at the CAST gene is important in explaining variation for Warner-Bratzler peak-force measurements between individuals irrespective of the breed of origin. The sample was chosen to control for the effects of breed and to spread the sample as widely as possible over different sire lines, contemporary groups, feeding and finishing regimes; care was taken to ensure that, as much as possible, individuals in either extreme were from each breed, contemporary group, feeding and finishing system. in this way, systematic effects of these factors on peak-force were controlled so that the effect of the alleles would not be due to inadvertently being carried along by other factors affecting peak-force values. Indeed, there are statistically significant deviations in peak-force due to allelic substitution at this locus even when there is no accounting for the other fixed effects. Inspection of the raw data show frequency differences within breeds for the different genotypes so that the ‘1’ allele is rarer in the extreme with lower peak-force values.

[0068] This association between the ‘1’ allele and higher peak force measurements is confirmed in a second smaller sample of extreme animals. These animals are less extreme than those in then first sample, they are the left-over extremes, and they clearly show not only that the calpastatin genotypes are important but that in such a small sample, other factors known to be important are not found to be statistically significant. In a well matched sample such as this it is not of concern, since we attempt to remove the effects of the other factors as much as possible through the choice of samples to analyse.

[0069] The size of the homozygote substitution is approximately 1.34 kg of peak force for the LD, equivalent to 0.83 of standard deviation. This value is likely to be overestimated since the extremes of the distribution were used, and a proper estimate will require animals chosen at random from the full distribution of peak force. Nevertheless, this is a useful amount of genetic variance associated with a single marker and it is expected that this marker would be useful in direct DNA marker tests for breeding and feedlot streaming.

[0070] The analysis shows no evidence of a breed by genotype interaction on peak-force, which means that there is no evidence that the allele association is different or absent in some breeds. This is interpreted to mean that there is no heterogeneity in the breeds for the association between calpastatin and peak-force.

[0071] A positive test for allelic association generally means that the causative mutation is close to the DNA markers. Associations in other studies have indicated that allelic association decays at an extremely rapid rate so that DNA markers even relatively close to a quantitative trait locus will find no evidence of association (e.g., Coleman et al., 1995; Barendse, 1997). This indicates that the causative mutation or mutations are extremely close to the CAST D/E polymorphism.

EXAMPLE 3 Identification of CAST5 Microstatellite Polymorphism

[0072] To determine whether other polymorphisms in the CAST gene are associated with tenderness, both of the cattle samples (Tables 1 & 6) were genotyped with the CAST5 microsatellite polymorphism (Nonneman et al, 1999) which was developed from DNA sequence reported earlier (Cong et al., 1998).

[0073] The primer sequences to amplify this polymorphism are CAST5U1: 5′-GTAAAGCCGCACAAAACACACCCAGG-3′ and CAST5D1: 5′-GTTTCTGGACCCTCTGGATGAGGAAGCGG-3′

[0074] with amplification fragments in the range 130- 159 bp, sizes determined on an ABI 373 DNA sequencer. Alleles and genotypes were assigned based on these size fragments leading to 13 alleles and the distribution of allele sizes is shown in FIG. 5.

[0075] Two different sets of analyses were performed. In the first, the genotypes at the CAST3 D/E polymorphism were compared to the CAST5 microsatellite to determine whether there were significant associations between the genotypes, as a consequence of haplotypes existing along the DNA sequence. If CAST5 and CAST3 show significant haplotypes, since they are on either side of the CAST coding sequence, then all polymorphisms for the CAST coding sequence are expected to be in linkage disequillibrium with either or both of these DNA markers. In the second, the CAST5 microsatellite alleles were compared to the LD peak-force measurements to determine whether there was any association between CAST5 and tenderness.

[0076] Haplotypes Between CAST5 and CAST3

[0077] Since genotypes of parents of these animals were not available haplotypes where determined by analysing animals in which one or both of CAST5 and CAST3 had homozygous genotypes. The frequency of these haplotypes were tabulated (Table 9). These frequencies were tested for heterogenity using a generalised linear model and found to be highly heterogenous (Table 10). This means that each allele at CAST3 D/E is preferentially associated with specific alleles at the CAST5 microsatellite.

[0078] Association Between Tenderness and CAST5

[0079] Since CAST5 has 13 alleles and hence there are 91 possible genotypes, not all of these genotypes will be seen in a sample of 240 samples, as in this study, so the association was estimated on the alleles. As for the CAST3 D/E DNA marker, the polymorphism was compared to the raw LD peak-force values (Table 11 a), was examined for differences in interactions between breeds (Table 11 b), and was compared to the LD peak-force values after market, cohort, breed and finish effects were accounted for (Table 11 c). In the last of these analyses, CAST5 alleles are nested within finish and breed, as in the analysis of CAST3.

[0080] These analyses show that there is no interaction between CAST5 allele frequency and breed on LD peak-force, that the association between CAST5 and the raw LD peak-force values is statistically significant at the threshold P<0.01, but when the CAST5 alleles are nested within breed and finish, the association has a deviation which is 0.1>P>0.05. The lack of interaction between CAST5 and breed in explaining LD peak-force means that any differences in gene frequencies between breeds are not responsible for the association between CAST5 and LD peak-force. The association between CAST5 and LD peak-force in sections a and b of Table 11 indicate that there is some evidence for CAST5 associated with LD peak-force, but a bias might still exist, which is why the factors such as market, cohort, breed and finish are also corrected for. Once those factors are corrected, there is a lack of strength in the association. In the CAST3 D/E analysis, correcting the additional factors improved the evidence for the association, and since the same samples are used, we know in which direction the deviations should go. Thus the lack of strength probably means that the large number of alleles nested within breed and finish, has failed to find an association due to the creation of a large number of categories. Larger numbers of alleles are expected to reduce the strength of associations purely due to the number of categories (of Terwilliger, 1995).

[0081] The CAST5 polymorphism can be used in conjunction with the CAST3 D/E polymorphism to predict LD peak-force. For CAST3 D/E the c11 genotype is associated with higher peak force values, the c12 genotype is intermediate and the c22 genotype has the lower peak force values. Secondly, there is linkage disequillibrium between CAST3 D/E and CAST5. By examining the table of haplotypes, looking at the common microsatellite alleles, CAST3 D/E al (allele 1) is most often associated with CAST5 m3 (allele 3) with low abundances for m7 and m9. On the contrary, CAST3 D/E a2 (allele 2) is most often associated with CAST5 m9, with a similar large association to m3 and a lesser but still significant association with m7. Inspection of FIG. 6, a plot of raw LD peak-force values for each CAST5 microsatellite allele, indicates that CAST5 m7 and m9 have lower peak force values while CAST5 m3 has higher peak force values. Since most of the m3 alleles are actually associated with CAST3 D/E a2 and not a1 (108 versus 14), this higher value is not likely to be the effect of CAST D/E a1. Rather it provides a tool to refine the assignment of animals to groups, since animals selected for having CAST3 D/E a2, so that they might have lower peak force values, might still have higher peak force values if they possessed CAST5 m3. They are expected to have a greater likelihood of having lower peak force values if they possessed both CAST3 D/E a2 as well as CAST5 m7 or m9.

EXAMPLE 4

[0082] This example shows the testing of a DNA marker in the LOX gene for population associations to STIC and STADH. Repeated statistically significant positive associations were found between genotypes and both STIC and STADH. These indicate that, unusually, the heterozygote may be one of the extreme genotypes suggesting some overdominance. These associations are found in a study of 6 breeds of cattle with a structure to detect linkage disequilibrium and would indicate that the gene LOX either contained or was located near to the genetic factor associated with connective tissue strength.

[0083] Materials and Methods

[0084] Cattle were chosen from the CRC DNA Bank to have as diverse a genetic and phenotypic background as possible. Two groups of animals were chosen, the first and larger set to test for associations and the second smaller set to confirm the polarity of the associations (cf. Barendse 1997; Barendse et al., 2000). Information stored in the CRC Database was used to select animals. Animals of extremes of instron compression in the semitendinosis muscle were selected. Adhesion measures for these animals were also extracted from the database. In essence, the procedure was to select cattle in each cohort which were of phenotypic extreme measures, to ensure that no sire was represented by a cluster of offspring, that all markets and finishing regimes were included in each extreme, so that extremes were not biased by being representative of a particular market or finishing regime. A total of 253 individuals were selected comprising a first sample of 166 animals and a second sample of 87 animals (Table 11).

[0085] The DNA was genotyped for the LOX (Lysyl Oxidase) DNA fragment using the primers LOX K5: 5′ tat cac tga tgt caa acc tg 3′ and LOX K6: 5′ act cag gca cca aat agc tg 3′. The conditions of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are an annealing temperature of 60 Celsius, 2.5 mM Magnesium chloride, and reagent mixes obtained from Biotech International. The DNA fragments were labelled via the incorporation of ³²P dCTP into the fragments during the PCR. The fragments were digested with HinfI overnight at 37 Celsius before separation on gels. The fragments were visualised via autoradiography to X-Ray film overnight at room temperature. Alleles were scored in numerical order where the fastest migrating allele is number 1.

[0086] The genotypes were analysed using generalised linear models (GLM) following the equation STIC=1+genotypes nested within fixed effects+error implemented via the S-PLUS software. The same model is used for STADH. Fixed effects that were considered were breed, finish (Domestic, Korea, Japan), cohort, region (pasture v grain, north v south) and the covariate of age. Age was included since LOX affects cross-linking of collagen and cross-linking is an age related process, with cross-linking increasing over time. The genotypes were nested within region and breed since pure-bred offspring of taurine sires were not pastured in the north. The size of the effects associated with genotype was estimated by the comparison of variances (eg, Andersson-Eklund and Rendel, 1993). To estimate the size of effect associated with genotypic substitution, the same model was fitted without the LOX genotypes. Residuals were extracted and compared to the LOX genotypes. These were analysed using an analysis of variance to obtain adjusted means for each genotype.

[0087] Results

[0088] There are two alleles (FIG. 7) for the LOX polymorphism and both these alleles are found in all the breeds, although there are clear differences in genotype frequency within the breeds. There is no consistent difference between zebu and taurine breeds in frequency of the genotypes (Table 12). The Hereford breed differs radically in genotype frequencies to all the other breeds in the sample. It has high frequencies of genotype ‘22’ while all other breeds have high frequencies of genotype ‘11’.

[0089] The STIC and STADH values are correlated with R=0.52 (FIGS. 8-10). The plots indicate that while the STIC values show two clear extremes the STADH values have only a long tail and do not show two discrete distributions. This reflects that the sample was selected only on STIC.

[0090] The analyses (Tables 13 and 14) of LOX against STIC and STADH show consistent statistically significant associations. The first and the second samples as well as the combined samples of both STIC and STADH show associations to LOX genotypes at P<0.05. The association of LOX appears stronger to STADH than to STIC. The association in the second sample of STADH phenotypes has extremely high statistical significance but this may be due to sampling in small populations and the congruence of extreme phenotypes with particular genotypes. The combined analysis of STADH is less extreme than the second sample but shows confirmatory linkage to LOX (P<0.01).

[0091] Nevertheless, it is clear that these are not large genotypic substitution effects and some analyses do not show statistical significance. When the LOX genotypes were compared to residual STIC and STADH, none of these associations was statistically significant, whether by sample or data combined (Table 15). Interestingly, some of the comparisons show that the heterozygotes are of extreme phenotype, opening the possibility of overdominance at this locus. This will need to be confirmed using other polymorphisms at the LOX gene that show larger genotypic substitution effects.

[0092] Discussion

[0093] Consistent with those earlier analyses, the STADH values show greater association to the DNA marker than the STIC values, even though the samples are extreme for STIC, with STADH values only more dispersed than normal due to the correlation between traits (FIG. 9). STIC was chosen upon which to select extremes rather than STADH. However, both of these measurements evaluate aspects of connective tissue strength, the adhesion measures the force required, in crude terms, to pull a muscle apart, the force applied perpendicular to the fibre bundles, while the instron compression measures how much the muscle can be flattened without being torn or cut. These are not perfectly correlated as can be seen by inspection of the distribution of STIC and STADH values (FIG. 10).

EXAMPLE 5

[0094] The association between the marker and STIC was examined in Example 4 using two batches of extreme animals. The results show that there are significant associations between the genotypes of the marker and STIC (instrom compression, P<0.05), and STADH (adhesion, P<0.01). The results suggest that the gene LOX either contains or is located near the genetic factor associated with connective tissue strength.

[0095] Because this study was carried out on a relative small population (253) with extreme animals only, the same marker was tested on different populations to see if the association is still valid.

[0096] Materials and Methods

[0097] In addition to the population, there are two other groups containing animals chosen from the two tails of instron compression (LDIC, 136) and peak force (LDPF, 131) for the LOX gene study. These three extreme groups together with 559 non-extreme individuals form the base for these analyses on the LOX marker. A total of 917 individuals were used for the study (Table 16).

[0098] Due to the nature of the populations, the analyses were carried out to the three datasets.

[0099] Extreme animals only (389). The extreme animals from LDIC, LDPF and STPF were pooled together.

[0100] Non-extreme animals (559).

[0101] Combined data (917). The combination of 1 and 2.

[0102] Beside the traits STIC, LDPF and LDIC, a range of other traits was also evaluated to see if there is any effect of LOX gene on other meat quality traits (Table 17). The intramuscular fat measurements from LD_FAT % and NIR_FAT % were combined to make a single trait.

[0103] The mixed model procedure (MLX) in SAS (version 8.0) was used to run the statistical analyses. The fixed effects in the model include finish group and LOX marker. Sire and contemporary groups are treated as random effects. All these effects were nested within individual breeds. The statistical model used is as follow:

[0104] Trait=mean+sire within breed+contemporary group within breed+finish within breed+LOX within breed+Carcass weight.

[0105] Contemporary group was defined as the combination of herd of origin, cohort and kill code. The individuals without electrical stimulation were removed from the analysis data. Carcass weight is being used as a covariate to adjust for the age difference.

[0106] A full contrast model would be performed if a significant marker-trait association was identified from a mixed model (or GLM) analysis. The purpose of conducting such the test is to further examine the possibility of additive or dominance or overdominance effect among the genotypes of the LOX marker. The full contrast of 3 genotypes (11, 12 and 22) is set up in SAS as follow:

[0107] contrast ‘Additive Test’ lox(bcode) 1 0 −1;

[0108] Contrast ‘Homozygotel vs Heterozygote’ 1 −1 0

[0109] Contrast ‘Heterozygote vs Homozygote2’ 0 1 −1

[0110] contrast ‘Dominance Test’ lox(bcode) −1 2 −1;

[0111] contrast ‘Recessive Test’ lox(bcode) −1 −1 2;

[0112] contrast ‘OverDominance Test’ lox(bcode) 2 −1 −1;

[0113] For the extreme population in which the animals with extreme phenotypes were genotyped, multi-trait logistic regression method (Henshall and Goddard, 1999) was applied to take the potential correlation of traits into account. The method is regression based, but instead of regressing phenotype on genotype, the regression is genotype on phenotype. This replaces the assumption that phenotypes are unselected with the assumption that there was no selection based on genotypes (Henshall and Goddard, 1998). Prior to using logistic regression method, MLX model was used to all data (917 animals) to derive predicted values of individual animals. The predicted phenotype values for the extreme animals after adjusting for significant fixed effects were then used for Logistic regression analyses. The analyses started with single trait logistic regression method and then proceeded to multi-trait logistic regression method.

[0114] The genotype frequency distribution of the marker in different populations is shown in Table 18. From the table, it can be seen that the Hereford breed differs remarkably in genotype frequencies to all the other breeds in the populations. In order to investigate the potential effect of skewed genotypes of Hereford breed on the overall results, a set of additional analyses were also pursued to the populations by removing the Hereford individuals from the data sets.

Results and Discussions Part I. Extreme Animals (Table 19)

[0115] Extreme Animals for LDIC

[0116] The first test was conducted to the sample containing the selected animals for LDIC (136). The results from the analysis of variance reveal that there was no close association between any genotypes of LOX marker and LDIC. The same conclusion was held to other meat quality traits.

[0117] Extreme Animals for LDPF

[0118] Like LDIC sample, there was no significant variation detected between the LOX marker and any meat quality trait in the batch animals selected for LDPF. The results are not surprising as the initial QTL for tenderness in CBX experiment was identified in instron compression measurement of Semitendinosus muscles.

[0119] Combined Extreme Animal Data

[0120] Analysis of Variance. As sire effect was confounded with other effects, it had to be removed from the model and GLM (generalised linear model) was performed. In this case, contemporary group was treated as a fixed effect rather than a random effect. The analysis of variance has shown that out of 21 meat quality traits tested, STIC and LDL had significant results (P<0.05).

[0121] Full Contrast Model. The results from full contrast model are given below. For STIC, it can be seen that there was no additive effect between the two homozygous genotypes (11 and 22). However, the highly significant difference between the phenotypes of 11 and 12 obviously contributed to the detection of dominant and overdominant effects. Nothing was remarkable for LDL.

[0122] Logistic Regression. After adjusting for the significant fixed effects on all data, logistic regression was applied to STIC. Multi-trait logistic regression model was also fitted to take the potential correlations between ST measurements into account (STIC, STPF and STADH). The results confirm the findings from the other methods. That is, LOX genotypes did have a correlation with STIC. The regression co-efficiency between lox marker and STIC is shown in the output of logistic procedure (below). The allele substitution effect of the lox marker could be derived from the formulae suggested by Henshall and Goddard (1999) based on the total variance of whole data. The multi-trait logistic regression test on STIC, STPF and STADH has shown that both STIC and STPF had significant effects on LOX gene marker. STPF was marginally non-significant in GLM analysis. (Table 20)

Part II. CRC Non-Extreme Animals

[0123] The non-extreme animals (559) were genotyped against LOX marker in CRC I and but were not part of the animals involved in marker evaluation Phases III. The mixed model analyses of variance show that beside STIC, the significant marker-trait association was also detected to the intramuscular fat (FAT) and LDPH. However, full contrast test to STIC and FAT has failed to pinpoint the genotype causing the significant results. In the case of LDPH, it seems that 22 genotype had an important role in determining the outcomes. (Table 21)

Part III. Combined Data

[0124] When extreme and non-extreme animals were pooled together, the results from mixed model analysis of variance show that again the lox marker was associated with STIC (P<0.05). The significant results were also found in STL, which is the measurement of darkness of carcass meat colour. However in both cases, full contrast model had not be able to identify the significant genotype sources. (Table 22)

Part IV. Removing Hereford Individuals from the Combined Population

[0125] In order to test the possible effect of skewed distribution of lox genotypes of Hereford breed, the additional analyses were also performed to the combined data with the removal of Hereford breed. The results indicate that the removal of Hereford animals has changed little to the overall significant results of STIC in the combined population. From the genotype frequency distribution table, it can be seen that the majority of Hereford individuals were from the three extreme populations except one animal from non-extreme CRC population. (Table 23)

[0126] The overall results from the investigation of LOX gene effect on meat quality traits have been consistent across three populations (extreme, non-extreme and combined). That is, there is a strong association of LOX gene marker with the instron compression measurement of Semitendinosus muscles (P<0.05). The significant results from other meat quality traits vary from one population to another.

Industrial Applicability

[0127] The invention is useful in allowing selection and breeding of animals which yield more tender meat. TABLE 1 Characteristics of the first Cattle Sample Total: 169 83 high peak force 86 low peak force Breeds: 29 Santa Gertrudis 25 Hereford 26 Angus 27 Belmont Red 31 Brahman 31 Shorthorn Regions: 38 Pasture South 28 Pasture North 57 Grain South 41 Grain North Markets: 72 Korean 67 Domestic 25 Japanese Cohorts: 27 Cohorts Median: 5 steers per cohort bottom quartile: 2 steers per cohort top quartile: 9 steers per cohort Sires: 112 sires Median: 1 steer per sire bottom quartile: 1 steer per sire top quartile: 2 steers per sire

[0128] TABLE 2 Distribution of CAST genotypes in the breeds in the first sample. Genotype Breed 11 12 22 23 Angus 0 7 19 0 Belmont Red 0 8 19 0 Brahman 6 13  10 2 Hereford 0 5 17 0 Santa Gertrudis 3 5 19 0 Shorthorn 0 4 23 0

[0129] TABLE 3 Associations between calpastatin genotypes (castg) and tenderness. A. Calpastatin by itself Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: peakforce Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 155 864.6307 castg 3 70.89899 152 793.7317 4.52573 0.004536025 B. Breed × Calpastatin Interactions Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: peakforce Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 155 864.6307 finish 2 101.8455 153 762.7852 15.97637 0.0000008 cohort 25 273.5882 128 489.1971 3.43339 0.0000041 region 3 59.6620 125 429.5350 6.23940 0.0005889 breed 4 10.8711 121 418.6639 0.85267 0.4948672 castg 3 28.2709 118 390.3930 2.95654 0.0355308 breed:castg 6 33.4066 112 356.9864 1.74682 0.1166518 C. Calpastatin genotypes nested with breed and region Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: peakforce Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 155 864.6307 finish 2 101.8455 153 762.7852 18.28842 0.0000002 cohort 25 273.5882 128 489.1971 3.93027 0.0000005 region 3 59.6620 125 429.5350 7.14235 0.0002128 breed in region 7 26.8943 118 402.6408 1.37983 0.2219802 castg in (region/breed) 17 121.4139 101 281.2269 2.56498 0.0018938

[0130] TABLE 4 Analysis of CAST against residual peakforce measurements (X1). Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: X1 Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 154 402.3160 castg 3 21.97947 151 380.3365 2.90874 0.03654659 Call: glm(formula = X1 castg, data = calppftest, na.action = na.omit) Coefficients: (Intercept) castg1 castg2 castg3 0.07693593 −0.4095948 −0.3102917 −0.3504961 Degrees of Freedom: 155 Total; 151 Residual Residual Deviance: 380.3365 Model from which residuals were calculated Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: peakforce Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 160 906.5175 finish 2 106.0217 158 800.4958 15.52293 0.0000010 cohort 26 290.8387 132 509.6571 3.27558 0.0000057 finlwt 1 8.0662 131 501.5908 2.36200 0.1269337 region 3 63.9431 128 437.6478 6.24139 0.0005629 breed in region 7 24.4323 121 413.2154 1.02206 0.4192678 glm(formula: peakforce = finish + cohort + finlwt + region/breed, data = calppf, na.action = na.omit)

[0131] TABLE 5 Analysis of Variance tables between CAST genotypes and residual peak force measures (X1) along with the table of adjusted means associated with each genotype. Analysis of Variance Table Response: X1 Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Sum of Sq Mean Sq F Value Pr (F) castg 3 21.9795 7.326490 2.90874 0.03654659 Residuals 151 380.3365 2.518785 Tables of adjusted means Grand mean 0.076936 se 0.318703 castg c11 c12 c22 c23 1.1473 0.3281 −0.1932 −0.9746 se 0.5290 0.2479 0.1564 1.1222

[0132] TABLE 6 Characteristics of the second sample of 77 animals. Total: 77 39 high peak force 38 low peak force Breeds: 11 Belmont Red 11 Hereford 13 Brahman 13 Shorthorn 14 Santa Gertrudis 15 Angus Regions: 24 Pasture South 12 Pasture North 21 Grain South 20 Grain North Markets: 35 Korean 25 Domestic 17 Japanese Cohorts: 22 Cohorts Median: 3 steers per cohort bottom quartile: 2 steers per cohort top quartile: 5 steers per cohort Sires: 64 sires Median: 1 animal per sire bottom quartile: 1 animal per sire top quartile: 1 animal per sire

[0133] TABLE 7 Distribution of CAST genotypes in the second sample Genotype Breed 11 12 22 Angus 0 3 12  Belmont Red 0 3 8 Brahman 3 7 3 Hereford 0 3 8 Santa Gertrudis 1 4 9 Shorthorn 0 0 13 

[0134] TABLE 8 Associations between calpastatin genotypes and LD peak force in the second sample. Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: ldpeakforce Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 76 205.9332 castg 2 17.90313 74 188.0300 3.522925 0.03455689 Coefficients: (Intercept) castg1 castg2 5.227591 −0.1205 −0.3719088 Degrees of Freedom: 77 Total; 74 Residual Residual Deviance: 188.03 Single term deletions Model: ldpeakforce = lslortwait + buttemp + finish + cohort + region + breed + castg Final Call: glm(formula = ldpeakforce castg, data = calppfr, na.action = na.omit) Coefficients: (Intercept) castg1 castg2 5.195064 −0.07055556 −0.37438 Degrees of Freedom: 67 Total; 64 Residual Residual Deviance: 161.5878

[0135] TABLE 9 The amount of each haplotype found between the alleles of the cast5 microsatellite and the cast3 D/E SNP on both cattle samples. Twenty-six haplotypes were found in animals that are homozygous for one or the other locus. allele haplotype cast3 cast5 amount 1 a1 m1 3 2 a1 m2 0 3 a1 m3 14 4 a1 m4 0 5 a1 m5 0 6 a1 m6 3 7 a1 m7 6 8 a1 m8 2 9 a1 m9 6 10 a1  m10 5 11 a1  m11 0 12 a1  m12 1 13 a1  m13 0 14 a2 m1 0 15 a2 m2 1 16 a2 m3 108 17 a2 m4 1 18 a2 m5 4 19 a2 m6 3 20 a2 m7 42 21 a2 m8 2 22 a2 m9 110 23 a2  m10 17 24 a2  m11 6 25 a2  m12 1 26 a2  m13 1

[0136] Table 10 A heterogeneity test for associations between alleles at CAST5 with alleles at CAST3 D/E. Analysis of Deviance Table Poisson model Response: score Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev Pr(Chi) NULL 25 926.9836 cast3  1 220.4994 24 706.4842 0.0000000000 cast5 12 671.7497 12  34.7345 0.0000000000 cast3:cast5 12  34.7344  0  0.0001 0.0005161421 Table 11 Tests for association between CAST 5 microsatellite and LD peak force measurements in both cattle samples. Part A. Calpastatin by itself Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: ldpf Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 491 2266.640 ma111 12 136.0104 479 2130.629 2.548113 0.002843108 Part B. Breed by calpastatin interactions Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: ld Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 491 2266.640 market  2 218.4756 489 2048.164 42.35776 0.0000000 cohort 26 706.3980 463 1341.766 10.53504 0.0000000 finish  3  97.7159 460 1244.050 12.63003 0.0000001 breed  4  23.5779 456 1220.472  2.28562 0.0594827 cast5 12  65.7617 444 1154.711  2.12497 0.0146070 breed:cast5 26  76.7170 418 1077.994  1.14414 0.2865614 Part C. Calpastatin genotypes nested with breed and finish (region) Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: ld Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 491 2266.640 market  2 218.4756 489 2048.164 42.90121 0.00000000 cohort 26 706.3980 463 1341.766 10.67020 0.00000000 breed  4  30.7280 459 1311.038  3.01697 0.01799825 finish % in % reed  6 111.2067 453 1199.832  7.27908 0.00000022 cast5 % in % (breed/finish) 65 211.8811 388  987.950  1.28019 0.08307834

[0137] TABLE 11 Characteristics of the Cattle Sample Total: 166 87 high instron compression 87 39 low instron compression 89 38 Breeds: Angus 25 12 Belmont Red 25 12 Brahman 33 18 Hereford 32 10 Santa Gertrudis 26 15 Shorthorn 25 17 Regions: Pasture South 47 20 Pasture North 39 21 Grain South 43 20 Grain North 37 26 Markets: Korean 81 22 Domestic 47 45 Japanese 38 22 Cohorts: 25 14 Median: steers per cohort 6 3 bottom quartile: 3 1 top quartile: 10 11 Sires: 113 62 Median: steers per sire 1 1 bottom quartile: 1 1 top quartile: 2 2

[0138] TABLE 12 Distribution of LOX genotypes in the breeds in the combined sample. Genotype Breed 11 12 22 Angus 12 16 5 Belmont Red 19 14 2 Brahman 20 21 4 Hereford  1  7 27  Santa Gertrudis 18  5 1 Shorthorn 23 11 3

[0139] TABLE 13 Associations between LOX genotypes (loxg) and STIC. A. First Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stic Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 144 66.41782 market 2 4.68851 142 61.72932 10.11346 0.0001124 age 1 0.33061 141 61.39871 1.42631 0.2356143 cohort 23 25.50396 118 35.89474 4.78382 0.0000000 region 3 2.05111 115 33.84363 2.94960 0.0371506 breed % in % region B 3.73686 107 30.10677 2.01517 0.0537829 loxg % in % (region/breed) 20 9.94057 87 20.16620 2.14425 0.0081786 B. Second Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stic Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 77 36.73118 market 2 18.56015 75 18.17103 50.57448 0.0000000 age 1 1.22303 74 16.94800 6.66525 0.0131586 region 3 0.49228 71 16.45571 0.89428 0.4514796 breed % in % region 9 2.26136 62 14.19435 1.36933 0.2303598 loxg % in % (region/breed) 17 5.93715 45 8.25720 1.90331 0.0433708 NOTE: cohort could not be fitted as it required a model with more terms than degrees of freedom. cohort was dropped since that allowed a maximum of other terms to be fitted. C. Combined Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stic Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 222 105.0131 market 2 9.28932 220 95.7238 14.63402 0.0000015 age 1 0.66404 219 95.0598 2.09221 0.1500079 cohort 23 28.46167 196 66.5981 3.89890 0.0000002 region 3 0.97412 193 65.6240 1.02306 0.3840448 breed % in % region 9 2.08684 184 63.5372 0.73056 0.6804229 loxg % in % (region/breed) 24 12.75507 160 50.7821 1.67448 0.0327546

[0140] TABLE 14 Associations between LOX genotypes (loxg) and STADH. A. First Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stadh Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 139 4.118160 market 2 0.045611 137 4.072549 1.63665 0.2008490 age 1 1.030876 136 3.041674 73.98193 0.0000000 cohort 23 1.131428 113 1.910246 3.53035 0.0000129 region 3 0.053546 110 1.856699 1.28094 0.2863452 breed % in % region 8 0.192061 102 1.664639 1.72293 0.1050769 loxg % in % (region/breed) 19 0.508104 83 1.156535 1.91919 0.0229812 B. Second Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stadh Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 76 3.362345 market 2 0.560443 74 2.801903 25.18352 0.0000000513 age 1 0.486387 73 2.315516 43.71164 0.0000000425 region 3 0.390962 70 1.924554 11.71193 0.0000090738 breed % in % region 9 0.413632 61 1.510922 4.13035 0.0006637134 loxg % in % (region/breed) 17 1.021326 44 0.489595 5.39922 0.0000032684 C. Combined Sample Analysis of Deviance Table Gaussian model Response: stadh Terms added sequentially (first to last) Df Deviance Resid. Df Resid. Dev F Value Pr(F) NULL 216 7.480742 market 2 0.268508 214 7.212234 7.78709 0.0005990 age 1 1.252352 213 5.959882 72.63985 0.0000000 cohort 23 2.111912 190 3.847971 5.32594 0.0000000 region 3 0.065737 187 3.782233 1.27098 0.2863505 breed % in % region 9 0.325818 178 3.456415 2.09982 0.0326124 loxg % in % (region/breed) 23 0.784128 155 2.672287 1.97746 0.0079540

[0141] TABLE 15 Estimated sizes of effects of genotype substitutions at LOX on instron compression and adhesion of the semitendinosus muscle. Response: stic.resid Grand-mean 0.027133 se 0.053648 Loxg 111 112 122 0.03958 −0.02321 0.06503 se 0.07654 0.07897 0.11751 Response: sticbox3.resid Grand-mean −0.012888 se 0.039137 Loxg 111 112 122 0.033317 −0.058769 −0.013213 se 0.055916 0.058431 0.085115 Response: sticfull.resid Grand-mean −0.012888 se 0.039137 loxg 111 112 122 0.033317 −0.058769 −0.013213 se 0.055916 0.058431 0.085115 Response: sticadh.resid Grand-mean 0.002521 se 0.010321 Loxg 111 112 122 −0.001426 −0.002304 0.011292 se 0.014860 0.015390 0.022384 Response: sticbox3adh.resid Grand-mean 0.004308 se 0.012879 loxg 111 112 122 −0.003154 −0.007446 0.023524 se 0.018594 0.018891 0.028111 Response: sticfulladh.resid Grand-mean 0.0037399 se 0.0092835 loxg 111 112 122 −0.009303 −0.005244 0.025767 se 0.013379 0.013763 0.020180

[0142] TABLE 16 Information on the data sets Combined Non- Effect Class LDIC LDPF Extreme extreme Combined Total 136 131 398 543 916 Sires 96 96 171 61 227 Cohorts 24 24 26 10 30 Breeds Angus 19 22 62 134 196 Belmont 23 25 66 140 200 Red Brahman 24 27 76 73 142 Hereford 27 14 67 1 68 Santa 25 24 73 195 257 Gertrudis Shorthorn 18 19 53 0 53 Regions Pasture 27 27 92 93 185 South Pasture 24 25 78 144 212 North Grain 54 41 125 168 291 South Grain 31 38 102 138 228 North Markets Domestic 47 51 130 240 361 Korean 61 58 189 201 376 Japaness 28 22 78 102 179

[0143] TABLE 17 Meat quality traits tested for LOX gene marker Code Trait LD_Fat % Intramuscular Fat percentage (Soxhylet Method) LD_IC Longissimus dorsi Instrom compression LD_IY Longissimus dorsi initial yield (Nth kills only) LD_LOSS Longissimus dorsi cooking loss % LD_PF Longissimus dorsi Peak Force - must use “Stim” also LD_PF-IY Longissimus dorsi Peak Force - initial yield (Nth) LD_a Longissimus dorsi a* colour LD_b Longissimus dorsi b* colour LD_1 Longissimus dorsi L* colour LD_pH Longissimus dorsi ultimate pH NIR_Fat % Intramuscular Fat percentage (NIR method) ST_AdhRS Semitendinosus Shorthose adhesion ST_IC Semitendinosus Instrom compression ST_IY Semitendinosus initial yield (Nth kills only) ST_LOSS Semitendinosus cooking loss % ST_PF Semitendinosus Peak Force ST_PF-IY Semitendinosus Peak Force - initial yield (Nth) ST_a Semitendinosus a* colour ST_b Semitendinosus b* colour ST_1 Semitendinosus L* colour ST_pH Semitendinosus ultimate pH TenderQ Tenderness Quality as measured by PF (× 100)

[0144] TABLE 18 Distribution of LOX genotypes in the breeds in the three datasets Extreme Non-extreme Combined Breed 11 12 22 11 12 22 11 12 22 Angus 21 33 7 38 75 21 59 109 28 Brahman 35 35 6 19 40 14 52 71 19 Belmont 31 23 12 59 60 21 87 83 30 Red Hereford 4 17 46 0 1 0 4 18 46 Santa 42 29 2 120 62 13 156 86 15 Gertrudis Shorthorn 34 18 1 0 0 0 34 18 1 Total 167 156 74 236 238 69 392 385 139

[0145] TABLE 19 The GLM Procedure Dependent Variable: STIC Sum of Source DF Squares Mean Square F Value Pr > F Model 297 90.3108958 0.3040771 2.54 <.0001 Error 97 11.5922526 0.1195078 Corrected Total 394 101.9031484 R-Square Coeff Var Root MSE STIC Mean 0.886242 16.41081 0.345699 2.106532 Source DF Type III SS Mean Square F Value Pr > F contemp(Bcode) 269 72.05453149 0.26786071 2.24 <.0001 Fingp(Bcode) 3 0.56463473 0.18821158 1.57 0.2004 Stim 1 0.29426415 0.29426415 2.46 0.1199 lox(Bcode) 12 3.23498136 0.26958178 2.26 0.0145 wt 1 0.62547588 0.62547588 5.23 0.0243 Contrast DF Contrast SS Mean Square F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 0.42074192 0.42074192 3.52 0.0636 11-12 1 2.17031475 2.17031475 18.16 <.0001 12-22 1 0.17567132 0.17567132 1.47 0.2283 Dominance Test 1 0.97536352 0.97536352 8.16 0.0052 Recessive Test 1 0.00964320 0.00964320 0.08 0.7770 OverDominance Test 1 1.58776355 1.58776355 13.29 0.0004 Standard Parameter Estimate Error t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 −0.54698783 0.29151964 −1.88 0.0636 11-12 −0.93226650 0.21876446 −4.26 <.0001 12-22 0.38527867 0.31777709 1.21 0.2283 Dominance Test 1.31754517 0.46119045 2.86 0.0052 Recessive Test 0.16170916 0.56927504 0.28 0.7770 OverDominance Test −1.47925433 0.40583359 −3.64 0.0004 LDL The GLM Procedure Dependent Variable: LD1 Sum of Source DF Squares Mean Square F Value Pr > F Model 295 4070.356476 13.797819 1.96 <.0001 Error 96 675.059834 7.031873 Corrected Total 391 4745.416310 R-Square Coeff Var Root MSE LDl Mean 0.857745 6.920726 2.651768 38.31633 Source DF Type III SS Mean Square F Value Pr > F contemp(Bcode) 267 2628.383772 9.844134 1.40 0.0278 Fingp(Bcode) 3 25.195055 8.398352 1.19 0.3161 Stim 1 0.195851 0.195851 0.03 0.8678 lox(Bcode) 12 160.954945 13.412912 1.91 0.0427 wt 1 5.974613 5.974613 0.85 0.3590 Contrast DF Contrast SS Mean Square F Value Pr > F Additive Test 1 5.88718974 5.88718974 0.84 0.3625 11 vs 12 1 3.08780445 3.08780445 0.44 0.5091 12 vs 22 1 1.03256209 1.03256209 0.15 0.7024 Dominance Test 1 0.01778689 0.01778689 0.00 0.9600 Recessive Test 1 3.27515251 3.27515251 0.47 0.4966 OverDominance Test 1 7.23682011 7.23682011 1.03 0.3129 Standard Parameter Estimate Error t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 −2.04608559 2.23617248 −0.91 0.3625 11-12 −1.11200497 1.67809812 −0.66 0.5091 12-22 −0.93408062 2.43759636 −0.38 0.7024 Dominance Test 0.17792435 3.53769859 0.05 0.9600 Recessive Test 2.98016622 4.36676923 0.68 0.4966 OverDominance Test −3.15809056 3.11305081 −1.01 0.3129

[0146] TABLE 20 Single Trait Logistic Regression The LOGISTIC Procedure Model Information Data Set WORK.EXTRERES Response Variable lox Number of Response Levels 3 Number of Observations 389 Link Function Logit Optimization Technique Fisher's scoring Response Profile Ordered Total Value lox Frequency 1 11 165 2 12 153 3 22  71 NOTE: 8 observations were deleted due to missing values for the response or explanatory variables. The LOGISTIC Procedure Testing Global Null Hypothesis: BETA = 0 Test Chi-Square DF Pr > ChiSq Likelihood Ratio 5.0720 1 0.0243 Score 5.0502 1 0.0246 Wald 5.0083 1 0.0252 Analysis of Maximum Likelihood Estimates Standard Parameter DF Estimate Error Chi-Square Pr > ChiSq Intercept 1 0.9245 0.5608 2.7174 0.0993 Intercept2 1 2.7482 0.5777 22.6278 <.0001 sticpred 1 −0.5827 0.2604 5.0083 0.0252 Odds Ratio Estimates Point 95% Wald Effect Estimate Confidence Limits sticpred 0.558 0.335 0.930 Multi-trait Logistic Regression The LOGISTIC Procedure Testing Global Null Hypothesis: BETA = 0 Test Chi-Square DF Pr > ChiSq Likelihood Ratio 14.7234 3 0.0021 Score 14.5859 3 0.0022 Wald 13.9424 3 0.0030 Analysis of Maximum Likelihood Estimates Standard Wald Parameter DF Estimate Error Chi-Square Pr > ChiSq Intercept 11 1 −0.9210 0.8702 1.1202 0.2899 Intercept 12 1 0.9467 0.8711 1.1813 0.2771 sticpred 1 −0.8681 0.3191 7.4014 0.0065 stadhpred 1 −0.4025 0.7724 0.2715 0.6023 stpfpred 1 0.5689 0.1936 8.6313 0.0033 Odds Ratio Estimates Point 95% Wald Effect Estimate Confidence Limits sticpred 0.420 0.225 0.785 stadhpred 0.669 0.147 3.039 stpfpred 1.766 1.208 2.581

[0147] TABLE 21 The Mixed Procedure Model Information Data Set WORK.CRC1 Dependent Variable STIC Covariance Structure Variance Components Estimation Method REML Residual Variance Method Profile Fixed Effects SE Method Model-Based Degrees of Freedom Method Containment Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z SireID(Bcode) 0.002544 0.002147 1.18 0.1181 contemp(Bcode) 0.008813 0.003896 2.26 0.0118 Residual 0.07009 0.005174 13.55 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 9 317 17.50 <.0001 Stim 1 317 1.75 0.1870 lox(Bcode) 8 317 2.36 0.0176 wt 1 317 6.45 0.0115 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 0.05547 0.07813 317 0.71 0.4782 11-12 0.1044 0.05660 317 1.84 0.0661 12-22 −0.04890 0.07013 317 −0.70 0.4861 Dominance Test −0.1533 0.1007 317 −1.52 0.1289 Recessive Test −0.00657 0.1373 317 −0.05 0.9619 OverDominance Test 0.1598 0.1170 317 1.37 0.1730 Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 317 0.50 0.4782 11-12 1 317 3.40 0.0661 12-22 1 317 0.49 0.4861 Dominance Test 1 317 2.32 0.1289 Recessive Test 1 317 0.00 0.9619 OverDominance Test 1 317 1.87 0.1730 Instramuscuar Fat The Mixed Procedure Model Information Data Set WORK.CRC1 Dependent Variable Fat Covariance Structure Variance Components Estimation Method REML Residual Variance Method Profile Fixed Effects SE Method Model-Based Degrees of Freedom Method Containment Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z SireID(Bcode) 0.04848 0.04510 1.07 0.1412 contemp(Bcode) 0.3111 0.1060 2.93 0.0017 Residual 1.2479 0.09791 12.75 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 9 306 7.08 <.0001 Stim 1 306 0.31 0.5790 lox(Bcode) 8 306 2.00 0.0461 wt 1 306 74.54 <.0001 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 0.3765 0.3427 306 1.10 0.2728 11-12 −0.1207 0.2505 306 −0.48 0.6304 12-22 0.4972 0.3029 306 1.64 0.1018 Dominance Test 0.6179 0.4377 306 1.41 0.1591 Recessive Test −0.8737 0.5964 306 −1.47 0.1439 OverDominance Test 0.2558 0.5184 306 0.49 0.6220 Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 306 1.21 0.2728 11-12 1 306 0.23 0.6304 12-22 1 306 2.69 0.1018 Dominance Test 1 306 1.99 0.1591 Recessive Test 1 306 2.15 0.1439 OverDominance Test 1 306 0.24 0.6220 LDPH The Mixed Procedure Model Information Data Set WORK.CRC1 Dependent Variable LDpH Covariance Structure Variance Components Estimation Method REML Residual Variance Method Profile Fixed Effects SE Method Model-Based Degrees of Freedom Method Containment Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z contemp(Bcode) 0.002771 0.000702 3.95 <.0001 Residual 0.007878 0.000572 13.77 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 9 363 3.44 0.0004 Stim 1 363 1.14 0.2854 lox(Bcode) 8 363 3.01 0.0027 wt 1 363 21.61 <.0001 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 −0.1089 0.02648 363 −4.11 <.0001 11-12 −0.01502 0.01922 363 −0.78 0.4351 12-22 −0.09393 0.02376 363 −3.95 <.0001 Dominance Test −0.07891 0.03416 363 −2.31 0.0215 Recessive Test 0.2029 0.04650 363 4.36 <.0001 OverDominance Test −0.1240 0.03971 363 −3.12 0.0019 The Mixed Procedure Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 363 16.93 <.0001 11-12 1 363 0.61 0.4351 12-22 1 363 15.63 <.0001 Dominance Test 1 363 5.34 0.0215 Recessive Test 1 363 19.04 <.0001 OverDominance Test 1 363 9.75 0.0019

[0148] TABLE 22 STIC The Mixed Procedure Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z SireID(Bcode) 0.006141 0.004815 1.28 0.1011 contemp(Bcode) 0.05433 0.01003 5.42 <.0001 Residual 0.09190 0.006489 14.16 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 11 369 9.24 <.0001 Stim 2 369 4.06 0.0181 lox(Bcode) 12 369 1.90 0.0336 wt 1 369 9.93 0.0018 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 0.06327 0.08142 369 0.78 0.4376 11-12 0.07985 0.05752 369 1.39 0.1659 12-22 −0.01658 0.07440 369 −0.22 0.8238 Dominance Test −0.09643 0.1052 369 −0.92 0.3598 Recessive Test −0.04669 0.1450 369 −0.32 0.7476 OverDominance Test 0.1431 0.1198 369 1.20 0.2328 Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 369 0.60 0.4376 11-12 1 369 1.93 0.1659 12-22 1 369 0.05 0.8238 Dominance Test 1 369 0.84 0.3598 Recessive Test 1 369 0.10 0.7476 OverDominance Test 1 369 1.43 0.2328 STL Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z SireID(Bcode) 0.4389 0.3429 1.28 0.1003 contemp(Bcode) 3.3608 0.7375 4.56 <.0001 Residual 10.6090 0.6789 15.63 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 11 368 16.40 <.0001 Stim 2 368 4.68 0.0098 lox(Bcode) 12 368 2.18 0.0124 wt 1 368 8.64 0.0035 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 −0.7500 0.8582 368 −0.87 0.3827 11-12 −0.6732 0.5998 368 −1.12 0.2625 12-22 −0.07683 0.7815 368 −0.10 0.9217 Dominance Test 0.5963 1.0975 368 0.54 0.5872 Recessive Test 0.8268 1.5279 368 0.54 0.5887 OverDominance Test −1.4232 1.2576 368 −1.13 0.2585 Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 368 0.76 0.3827 11-12 1 368 1.26 0.2625 12-22 1 368 0.01 0.9217 Dominance Test 1 368 0.30 0.5872 Recessive Test 1 368 0.29 0.5887 OverDominance Test 1 368 1.28 0.2585

[0149] TABLE 23 The Mixed Procedure Covariance Parameter Estimates Standard Z Cov Parm Estimate Error Value Pr Z SireID(Bcode) 0.005452 0.004008 1.36 0.0869 contemp(Bcode) 0.03915 0.008774 4.46 <.0001 Residual 0.09105 0.006426 14.17 <.0001 Type 3 Tests of Fixed Effects Num Den Effect DF DF F Value Pr > F Fingp(Bcode) 10 368 10.46 <.0001 Stim 2 368 5.89 0.0030 lox(Bcode) 10 368 2.28 0.0132 wt 1 368 7.14 0.0079 Estimates Standard Label Estimate Error DF t Value Pr > |t| Additive Test 11-22 0.06263 0.07965 368 0.79 0.4322 11-12 0.09181 0.05618 368 1.63 0.1031 12-22 −0.02918 0.07277 368 −0.40 0.6887 Dominance Test −0.1210 0.1028 368 −1.18 0.2398 Recessive Test −0.03345 0.1419 368 −0.24 0.8137 OverDominance Test 0.1544 0.1171 368 1.32 0.1879 Contrasts Num Den Label DF DF F Value Pr > F Additive Test 11-22 1 368 0.62 0.4322 11-12 1 368 2.67 0.1031 12-22 1 368 0.16 0.6887 Dominance Test 1 368 1.39 0.2398 Recessive Test 1 368 0.06 0.8137 OverDominance Test 1 368 1.74 0.1879

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[0172] Woodward, B. W., DeNise, S. K., and Marchello, J. A. 2000. Evaluation of calpastatin activity measures in ante-and postmortem muscle from half-sib bulls and steers. J.Anim. Sci. 78, 804-809.

1 10 1 170 DNA Bos sp. 1 catttggaaa acgatgcctc acgtgttctt cagtgttctg atttctcatg acccctttcc 60 tcttggactt gtgggactgt gtttgatgtt tccctgggtt gttgtttata agtcagtcat 120 aaaatactgt gcattgggca catgtctcct cttgagctgc taatcgtaga 170 2 170 DNA Bos sp. 2 catttggaaa acgatgcctc acgtgttctt cagtgttctg atttctcatg acccctttcc 60 tcttagactt gtgggactgt gtttgatgtt tccctgggtt gttgtttata agtcagtcat 120 aaaatactgt gcattgggca catgtctcct cttgagctgc taatcgtaga 170 3 170 DNA Bos sp. 3 catttggaaa acgatgcctc acgtgttctt cagtgttctg atttctcatg acccctttcc 60 tcttagactt gtgggactgt gtttgatgtt tccctgggtt gttgtttata agtcagtcat 120 aatatactgt gcattgggca catgtctcct cttgagctgc taatcgtaga 170 4 329 DNA Bos sp. 4 ttatcactga tgtcaaacct ggaaactata ttctcaaggt agagaacttt gaacatatac 60 ccataatgta tttcaattgt gactcagtgg gcttattctc tggagtcaaa tgttaaatat 120 tcatggtcct gcaaacaatt atacatcttc tagaactact tytaaaccaa cctagatata 180 ttwaaaaaat tcttatttga aacacatgcc taacttacac cctcttcctt gcctgattta 240 gttgaattat taaacactgc tgatgaaatc tgaaacacag atgatgtttg ttttgcctag 300 gtcagtgtga atcccagcta tttggtgcc 329 5 22 DNA Artificial Sequence castd probe 5 catttggaaa acgatgcctc ac 22 6 25 DNA Artificial Sequence caste probe 6 tctacgatta gcagctcaag aggag 25 7 26 DNA Artificial Sequence cast5U1 probe 7 gtaaagccgc acaaaacaca cccagg 26 8 29 DNA Artificial Sequence cast5D1 probe 8 gtttctggac cctctggatg aggaagcgg 29 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Lox K5 probe 9 tatcactgat gtcaaacctg 20 10 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Lox K6 probe 10 actcaggcac caaatagctg 20 

1. A method for assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal, comprising the step of testing the animal for the presence or absence of a genetic marker selected from the group consisting of: (1) an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with peak-force variation or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele; and (2) an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) associated with variation in instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is located in the 3′ UTR of the CAST gene.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the allele is CAST3 D/E allele
 1. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the allele is CAST3 D/E allele 2 or allele
 3. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is located in the 5′ UTR of the CAST gene.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the allele is CAST5 allele
 3. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the allele is CAST5 allele 7 or allele
 9. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is located in the genomic region embracing the coding sequence of the CAST gene.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is a genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with either or both of the CAST3 D/E polymorphism and the CAST5 polymorphism.
 10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising the step of testing for the presence or absence of one or more additional genetic markers associated with peak-force variation.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of testing for the presence of CAST5 allele 7 or allele 9 and/or the absence of CAST5 allele 3 once the presence of CAST D/E allele 2 has been established.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is allele 1 of the LOX polymorphism.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the genetic marker is allele 2 of the LOX polymorphism.
 14. A genetic marker for meat tenderness in an animal which is a polymorphic form of the CAST gene, being the CAST3 D/E polymorphism or the LOX polymorphism.
 15. A genetic marker as claimed in claim 14 wherein the variable portion of the CAST gene comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 16. A genetic marker as claimed in claim 14 wherein the variable portion of the CAST gene comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 17. A genetic marker as claimed in claim 14 wherein the variable portion of the CAST gene comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
 18. An isolated DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 19. An isolated DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 20. An isolated DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
 21. An isolated DNA molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 22. An isolated DNA molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 23. An isolated DNA molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
 24. A method for selecting an animal likely to yield meat of improved tenderness, comprising the steps of: (1) testing the animal for the presence of an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with low peak-force or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele, and/or for the presence of an allele of the LOX gene associated with low instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele; and (2) selecting animals which have the CAST and/or LOX allele and/or genetic variation in allelic association therewith.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the allele tested for is CAST3 D/E allele 2 and animals which are homozygous for this allele are selected.
 26. A method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising the step of testing for the presence or absence of one or more additional alleles of the gene encoding calpastatin associated with low peak-force.
 27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the presence of CAST5 allele 7 or allele 9 is tested for, and animals having either of these alleles in addition to CAST3 D/E allele 2 are selected.
 28. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the presence of CAST5 allele 3 is tested for, and animals having this allele are rejected despite the presence of CAST3 D/E allele
 2. 29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, further comprising using the selected animal for breeding.
 30. An oligonucleotide probe for amplification of a genetic marker associated with peak-force variation, said genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with said allele.
 31. An oligonucleotide probe as claimed in claim 30 selected from the group consisting of: castd 5′ cat ttg gaa aac gat gcc tca c 3′ caste 5′ tct acg att agc agc tca aga gga g 3′ CAST5U1 5′-GTAAAGCCGCACAAAACACACCCAGG-3′ CAST5D1 5′-GTTTCTGGACCCTCTGGATGAGGAAGCGG-3′


32. An oligonucleotide probe for amplification of a genetic marker associated with variation in instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle, the genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with said allele.
 33. An oligonucleotide probe as claimed in claim 31 selected from the group consisting of: LOX K5: 5′ tat cac tga tgt caa acc tg 3′ LOX K6: 5′ act cag gca cca aat agc tg 3′


34. A kit for use in assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal and/or selecting an animal likely to yield meat of improved tenderness, comprising oligonucleotide probes for amplification of at least one genetic marker associated with meat tenderness, said genetic marker being either an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with said allele, or an allele of the LOX gene associated with low instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele, and means for amplifying DNA.
 35. A kit as claimed in claim 34 wherein the oligonucletide probes are selected from the group consisting of: castd 5′ cat ttg gaa aac gat gcc tca c 3′ caste 5′ tct acg att agc agc tca aga gga g 3 CAST5U1 5′-GTAAAGCCGCACAAAACACACCCAGG-3′ CAST5D1 5′-GTTTCTGGACCCTCTGGATGAGGAAGCGG-3′ LOX K5: 5′ tat cac tga tgt caa acc tg 3′ LOX K6: 5′ act cag gca cca aat agc tg 3′


36. An animal when selected by the method as defined in any one of claims 24 to
 27. 37. The progeny of an animal as defined in claim
 36. 38. Meat from an animal as defined in claim
 36. 39. Meat from the progeny of an animal as defined in claim
 36. 40. The use of an animal as defined in claim 36 in breeding.
 41. The use of the progeny of an animal as defined in claim 36 in breeding. 